Al Jazeerahas reported that Kurdish forces, backed by their Free Syrian Army (FSA) allies, have captured Brigade 93, a former Syrian Army base that was captured by the Islamic State last August. The base is in near the strategic city of Ayn Issa, which sits in the northern part of Raqqah province in Syria. The Qatari news agency rightfully notes that Ain Issa and Brigade 93 are considered the "first line of defense of Raqqah" for the Islamic State, as the latter city is its proclaimed capital.

After taking the Al Waleed border crossing between Iraq and Syria late last month, the jihadist group has released photos proving that they are indeed in control of the crossing. In the photo report, the Islamic State says that they further destroyed the "phantom Sykes-Picot borders."